FURTHER UPDATE Kim Wells MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, has responded outlining the changes made to legislation by the Victorian Government. The response is available below. UPDATE The Shadow Attorney General, Martin Pakula MP has responded to the joint letter. His response can be found below.
ALHR has endorsed an open letter to Attorney-General George Brandis calling on Australia to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The letter is available below. The letter has been endorsed by 64 organisations, including indigenous justice, legal, refugee, disability, medical and mental health organisations. Copies have also been sent to State and Territory Attorneys-General.
A coalition of diverse community groups, including ALHR, has written to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights outlining their concerns at the proposed introduction of the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Bill 2014. The groups have called on three Special Rapporteurs to investigate the incompatibility of the Bill with obligations under international … Read More >>
ALHR has written to the Chinese Ministry of Justice and All-China Lawyers Association raising concerns about the increasing harassment of lawyers in China. ALHR has called for the release of lawyers in detention and that the Chinese Government ensure protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments … Read More >>
The 5th May 2014 marks the 1st anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. ALHR, together with 11 other prominent NGO’s have written to the Federal Attorney General and Minister for Foreign Affairs urging Australia to ratify the Optional Protocol. A response … Read More >>
Below is an overview of the meeting between DFAT Deputy Secretary Gillian Bird and Australian NGO representatives to discuss the outcome of the recent Human Rights Dialogue with China.
ALHR has written to the South Australian Premier and Opposition Leader concerned that South Australia lacks a parliamentary committee that undertakes pre-enactment legislative scrutiny or post-legislative scrutiny of legislation for human rights impact, or indeed impact on any rights. ALHR has urged that South Australia put such a committee in place.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been asked to revoke his statement, made during his recent visit to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth summit, that suggested that the use of torture can be justified in “difficult circumstances”. In a joint letter, the Human Rights Law Centre, Human Rights Watch, the Castan Centre for Human Rights, … Read More >>
ALHR wrote to several NSW MPs with concerns about the potential implications which could arise from the Crimes Amendment (Destruction of Child in Utero – Zoe’s Law) Bill 2011 which is being considered by the NSW Parliament. ALHR urges NSW Parliamentarians to consider any such law changes carefully, to ensure they do not subject women … Read More >>
ALHR wrote to the Prime Minister, raising several concerns about the current procedures for assessing the protection needs of people who travel to Australia by boat.
ALHR wrote to the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General with concerns regarding the ‘Safer Streets Crime Action Plan – Youth Justice’
ALHR wrote to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, commending the decision to provide funding for the Aboriginal Legal Service to continue operating its Custody Notification Service for another two years.
